Badminton

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, India's top-ranked men's doubles badminton pair, are poised to make a strong bid for an Olympic medal at the upcoming Paris Games. The duo, who have consistently performed at the highest level in recent years, are confident in their ability to handle the pressure of expectations."We take it as a responsibility to make the Indian flag fly high at the Olympics," said Rankireddy. "We will work hard to achieve that."Shetty echoed his partner's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of channeling the pressure positively. "Pressure is there, but we view it positively," he said.Rankireddy and Shetty's Olympic aspirations are fueled by their impressive track record. In 2022, they became the first Indian men's doubles pair to achieve the world number one ranking. They also won bronze at the BWF World Championships and gold at the Asian Games.Their Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 was a memorable experience, despite not reaching the podium. "Competing in Tokyo and realizing we were among the world's best athletes was an incredible feeling," said Shetty.Rankireddy revealed a unique pre-match ritual involving Tokyo 2020 gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra. "I consider him a lucky charm, so I made sure to shake hands with him before every match," he said.The duo's parents have been a constant source of support throughout their journey. "For them, I am still a child, not an internationally acclaimed player," said Rankireddy. "They see me as they did 10 years ago."Currently ranked third in the world, Rankireddy and Shetty are serious contenders for a medal in Paris. Their recent achievements, including gold medals at the 2022 Asian Games and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, have further boosted their confidence.As they prepare for the biggest stage in sports, Rankireddy and Shetty are determined to make their country proud. "We are well equipped to handle the pressure," said Rankireddy. "We are confident in our abilities and will give it our all."